Sprinkler-head closer.



N. V. HOLMES & S H. ARP.

SPRINKLER HEAD CLOSER.

APPLICATION 'FILED 05020-1915- 1 ,1 89,820. Patented July 4, 1916.

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SPRINKLER HEAD CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED 05c.20.1915.

1 189 820 Patented July 4, 19m 9 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TUBMAN V. HOLMES ANT) SHERMAN H. ARP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T SEARS, ROEBUCK AND COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

srnmxtmnnan CLOSER.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Application filed December 20, 1915. Serial No. 67,744.

0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NORMAN V. HOLMES nd SHERMAN H. Anr, citizens of the lnited States, residing at Chicago, in the ounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have avented certain new and useful Improveients in Sprinkler-Head Closers, of which he following is a specification.

Modern buildings are equipped with fire xtinguisher systems, comprising pipes dapted to conduct water to outlets in the orm of sprinkler. heads located at suitable laces throughout the building for automatially discharging water in case of fire. lhese sprinkler heads are normally closed y heat susceptible closures, the latter being .da'pted to be affected by the heat from a ire to permit the closure to open and allow vater to escape from the sprinkler head. Nhen the fire is extinguished or is under :ontrol, the sprinkler heads are temporarily :losed by mechanical devices until the water :upply can be shut 01f at the base, and in :ase of small fires it is desirable that the :losing of the sprinkler heads be effected )romptly, otherwise the damage from the escaping water might greatly exceed that )f the fire.

One of the objects of this invention is to )roduce an improved sprinkler head closing levice which is adapted to be easily asso :iated with a sprinkler head and is quickly ind conveniently operable to close the outet thereof.

.Further objects are to produce a device which is adapted to engage the sprinkler mead in a novel manner; in which springs Ll'ld independent locking devices are dispensed with; and which comprises toggle ioint means for operating the two main jaws or sprinkler-head-cngaging parts of the device.

Further objects and advantages relating to details of construction will be apparent trom the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is anelevational view illustrating a sprinkler head and a closing device mounted thereon which embodies the features of our invention. The handles or operating levels of the device are shown as partially broken off in Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the closer in an open position. Fig. 3 is a section in the plane of line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the closer.

.Figs. 5 and G are sections on lines 55 and 66, respectively, of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the supply pipe of a sprinkler system and 2 the sprinkler. head, said head comprising the usual enlargement 3 and the yoke portion 4 op posing the outlet of the head and carrying the spreader 4*.

Our improved closing device comprises a bar 5, one end of which is shaped to pass between the sides of the yoke 4 andcarries a yieldable stopper fi of suitable material, such as rubber, adapted to close the outlet of the sprinkler head. The opposite end of the bar 5 in the present instance provides one of the operating handles of the device. An arm 7is pivoted at one end at S to the bar 5 about midway between the ends of'the latter and the opposite end'of said arm is forked to embrace the supply pipe or the shank of the sprinkler head, said-forked end being shaped to take a bearing against the enlargement 3 on said head, as shown in Fig. 5. hen viewed in plan (Fig. 4), the stopper 6 registers with the fork of the arm 7 The arm 7 and the bar 5 are arranged to be drawn toward each other to force the stopper 6 tightly against the outlet of the sprinkler head, by means of a lever 9 pivoted at 10 to the bar 5 at the opposite side from the arm 7, said lever providing the other operating handle of the device. The lever 9 is connected to the arm 7 by means of a pair of links 11 which pass at opposite sides of the bar 5. In the present instance, the lever 9 is of bell-crank formation and the centers 12 and 13 of the links are so located with relation to the center 10 of the lever 9 that when the lever and the bar are pressed toward each other to the position shown in Fig. 1, the links will throw over the pivotal center of the lever 9 and the tension on said links will act to hold the lever 9 and the bar 5 close together, in which position the stopper 6 will be tightly clamped in its closing position.

In use, the device is opened to the position shown in Fig. 2 and is associated with the sprinkler head by inserting the end of the bar 5 through the yoke 4 and causing the forked end of the arm 7 to embrace the shank of the head. 'The handles of the de water from said head. When the links 11 have thrown over the center, as shown in Fig. 1, the devicelwill remain in firmly' locked position on the sprinkler head and needs no positive locking means'to hold it' in its operative position. In removing the device the bar 5 and lever 9 are merely swung away fromeach other to separate the bar and the arm 7'as shown in Fig. 2, when the device -may be withdrawn from the sprinkler head.

While the device shown in the drawings represent the preferred embodiment of our invention, it should be understood the invention' is not limited to the particular arrangement of parts disclosed, but is capable of various modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

. We claim as our inventloni 1. A sprinkler head closer comprising a bar adapted to be passed through the yoke of the sprinkler head and carrying a stopper, an arm pivoted at one end to said bar and forked at its other end to embrace the shank of the sprinkler head and engage the enlargement thereon, a lever pivoted to said. bar at the'opposite side thereof from said arm and at a point between the ends of said arm, and a pair of links each pivoted at one end to said lever adjacent to its pivotal axis, each link beingpivoted at its other end to said arm between the ends of the latter and the links lying at opposite sides of said bar, the respective centers of the links and said lever being arranged so that'th'e links 'will throw over center and lockthe bar and arm in their drawn together position when the lever and bar are swung together.

2. A sprinkler head closercomprising a stopper-carrying member, an opposed member pivoted thereto and adapted to engage a part on the sprinkler head, a lever pivoted t0 the stopper-carrying member, and a link ranged to swing over center to lock the stopper and the bifurcated arm against separating movement.

4, A sprinkler head closer comprising a bar constituting a handle, a forked arm pivoted thereto, a stopper carried by said bar, a lever pivoted to said bar relatively close to the stopper and constituting a handle, and a link connecting said lever to said arm for operating the arm and the bar with relation to each other.

5. A sprinkler head'closer comprising a bar constituting a handle and carrying a stopper, an opposed member pivoted to one side of said bar, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the opposite side of said bar relatively close to the stopper, one, arm of said bellcrank lever constituting a handle, and links located at opposite sides of said bar and connecting the other arm of said bell-crank lever to said member.

In testimony whereof we hereunto set our hands.

NORMAN V. HOLMES. SHERMAN H. ARI. In the presence of-.

JOHN Hrccms, F. E. Ronnn'rs. 

